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This email contains news on:
1. A talk for UK National Breastfeeding Awarness Week (11 May 2009)
2. The Politics of Breastfeeding NOW AVAILABLE - including limited number of signed copies
3. Reminder of demonstration at Nestle (UK) HQ Crodyon 16 May, 11:00 - 12:00.
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1. A talk for UK National Breastfeeding Awarness Week (11 May 2009)
UK National Breastfeeding Awareness Week begins on 11 May 2009. Baby Milk Action has prepared a presentation for this with information from the UK monitoring project we coordinate on behalf the Baby Feeding Law Group, a coalition of UK health professional and mother support organisations. The talk can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxPUsbTqa0I
And at:
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2009/05/nbaw-09.html
Reports prepared as a result of the project have been submitted to enforcement authorities. Trading Standards have raised our concerns with the companies, which are resistant to change. However, Heinz is removing its non-compliant 'prebiotics' claim from labels. Wyeth is removing its 'new improved protein balance' claim and has improved its instructions to bring these closer to UK Department of Health guidance for parents (indicating using water above 70 deg. C to reconstitute powdered formula and then allowing this to cool - however, it does not explain this is because powdered formula is not sterile and may contain harmful bacteria). Nestlé has been warned it cannot distribute a video to health workers as it has not obtained the required permission from the Department of Health.
However, overall the responses from the authorities show that the UK regulations issued in 2008 are having little effect in curbing aggressive marketing and that associated Guidance Notes are unenforceable. These responses have been submitted with the final report sent to a government review panel investigating the effectiveness of the law. The panel will issue its recommendations shortly. Our report can be downloaded at:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/publications01.html#bflgreports
Reports were also submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which called on the Government to fully implement the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in its report on the UK in October 2008.
Monitoring continues and we are seeking further donations to enable this work to continue. You can make a donation at:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/donation.html#bflg
Please do continue to report cases of malpractice via the site:
http://www.babyfeedinglawgroup.org.uk/monitoring.html
2. The Politics of Breastfeeding NOW AVAILABLE
At last this in-depth, fascinating examination of cultural influences on breastfeeding is available once again, completely updated.
Subtitled 'When breasts are bad for business' and written by Gabrielle Palmer, a founder of Baby Milk Action, it provides insight into the strategies used by the baby food industry since its inception and how the campaign to hold it to account has turned the tide.
A limited number of signed copies are available:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/publications02.html#politics
3. Reminder of demonstration at Nestle (UK) HQ Crodyon, UK, 16 May, 11:00 - 12:00.
If you can't make it to Croydon, why not hold a demonstration at another site linked to Nestle, such as a factory, a Body Shop outlet (part-owned by Nestle) or shops selling Nestle goods?
If you are coming to Croydon, please let us know (if you have not done so already) at:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/action/demo09.html
You can use the same page to order leaflets for a local event.
Also see the boycott section of our online Virtual Shop for useful materials:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/boycott.html
You can also support the online virtual demonstration, by signing up on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=59171734370
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